5 was brutally butchered las--las--night--by--" [Illustration: "What is the meaning of all this ?"] "Go slow, Anderson! Better hold your horses!" cautioned Harry Squires.

"Don't forget the body's alive and kic--" and stopping short, in the hope that his break might escape the school-teacher's attention, he confusedly substituted, "and here." Anderson's jaw dropped, but the movement was barely perceptible, the discomfiture temporary, for to the analytical mind of the great detective the fact that a murder had been committed was fully established by the discovery of the blood.

That a body was obviously necessary for the continuance of further investigations he frankly acknowledged to himself; and not for one instant would any supposition or explanation other than assassination be tolerated.

And it was with unshaken conviction that he declared: "Well, somebody was slew, wasn't they?
That's as plain's the nose on y'r face.

Don't you contradict me, Harry Squires.